Gruinard River salmon whopper leaves Birmingham angler ‘in heaven’
AN angler who has visited a Wester Ross estate for over 40 years has landed the heaviest fish recorded there since 1936.
James Brown played the 24½lb salmon on Gruinard River for around 45 minutes before landing the whopper.
It was a memorable moment for Mr Brown who has been a regular visitor to Gruinard Estate for over four decades.
The fish, according to estate manager Gary Ross, “was caught in low water with far from perfect conditions” in what has otherwise been a poor start to the fishing season.
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The fish was then successfully returned to the river.
The heaviest fish recorded in 1936 was landed by Mr Ross’s great-grandfather, Donald, a former head keeper.
Gary is the fourth generation of head keeper at Gruinard. His great-grandfather, a native of Rogart, took on the role in 1928 after moving from Braemore Estate.
Mr Brown (59), who runs a printing business in Birmingham, told how the fish “really ripped downstream” five minutes after being hooked, leaving him “hobbling around” as he let out over 80 yards of line and tried to retain focus.
He said: “It certainly makes the heart beat faster!”
He was able to make contact with Gary, who was elsewhere on the river at the time, for help in eventually netting the fish - which he was then more than happy to see released back into the river.
As the large hen fish is capable of reproducing again, this plays a role in salmon conservation efforts.
A modest Mr Brown said: “This is a fish of a lifetime for someone like me. I’m almost 60 and not so good on my feet so I doubt the
chances of landing a whopper like that again. It would have been very difficult to land on my own.”
Asked about the appeal of the spot he returns to year after year, he said: “For me, it’s heaven. In my will, that’s where I want my ashes to go.”
